Do More With Reuters
Partner Services

UPDATE 1-Bangladesh Islamists protest women's inheritance law

Fri Apr 11, 2008 4:16pm IST
 
Email | Print | | Single Page
[-] Text [+]

(Adds details, quotes)

DHAKA, April 11 (Reuters) - Hundreds of members of a group campaigning for Islamic rule in Bangladesh clashed with police on Friday over a plan to give women the same inheritance rights as men.

Police fired teargas and used batons to break up the protests after members of the Islami Constitution Movement (ICM) threw rocks and stones as they emerged from Friday prayers at a mosque in the centre of the capital Dhaka, witnesses said.

A Reuters reporter said at least 100 people were injured in the protests that took place despite a ban on such gatherings under a state of emergency imposed after an army-backed interim administration took power in January last year.

Among the injured were cameramen of local television channels filming the protests and policemen, officials said. A police officer described the scene as a "virtual battlefield."

"All roads around the Baitul Mokarram mosque in the city centre were filled with white robed Muslim devotees since before noon despite strong presence of police," a witness said.

On Thursday, nearly 50 people were injured as members of the Khelafat Majlis group clashed with police in the capital over the same issue.

The activists' ire was triggered by reports of a draft law in the local media that gives equal inheritance rights, including property, to men and women.

The ICM, which is one of several groups campaigning for sharia-based laws in Bangladesh, said the proposed women's rights law was against a Koranic law of inheritance.  Continued...

Russian Finance Minister Alexey Kudrin poses with his G20 colleagues and central bank leaders during the family photo at the G20 Finance Ministers meeting at a hotel in St. Andrews, Scotland. REUTERS/POOL New
Pledge to support economies

G20 financial leaders pledged to prepare strategies to end emergency support for their economies, but to keep the aid flowing until recovery was assured.  Full Article | Related Story 

special coverage

Photo
Central Banks Cautious

Reuters tracks the policies of the world's top central banks as the debate over global economic recovery rages on.  Full Coverage 

Market Update

  • IndiaIndia
  • USUS
  • UKUK
  • Asia
  • Most Actives

SHOWCASE

Sanjay Sinha
Balancing Act

In India, it is a tough choice between growth, managing inflation and financial stability.  Full Article 

 
Nipun Mehta
Road to Recovery

There needs to be an acceptable balance created between education and healthcare and infrastructure spend, says Nipun Mehta of SG Private Banking.   Full Article 

 
Robot Asimo

Snapshots of Honda Motor's humanoid robot Asimo  Slideshow 

 
Marketing Strategy
Marketing Strategy

Companies are now using direct marketing methods to sell their products.  Full Article 

 
Exit Plans
Exit Plans

Factbox - Stimulus exit plans for Asia-Pacific's big 5 economies  Full Article